Stamping-machine.



P A R G W G STAMPING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1905.

rinr'rnn in ll rhllflhlhl i UFFICE,

CHARLES Wf GRAY, Uh CllA'lTANUULlA, TENNESSEE.

N0. seawe.

To a tqhonb it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented a certain new, and useful Improvement in Stamping- Machines, of which the follow ng is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, refer- .enee being had to the accompanying drawof its ob ects the provision of a machine of .the class described whereby envelope may effectively be sealed, notwithstanding the bulk of their contents, within the range oi the mechanism and the stamps efl'eetively applied thereto. To this end I employ a rocking lever, that is preferably manually operated, the rocking lever being operatively associated with a stamping-plate and a sealing-plate a spring being employed to place the operating-lever in its normal posi- 'tion. -lhe stamping-plate is located below the sealing-plate and has separable opera tive connection with. the operatingdever, the stamping-plate being desirably supported upon an intermediately-pivoted member, with which said rocking lever has separable driving connection, preferably through the agency of a rod extending vertically from said member toward the lover. The stamp applying plate and the plate ior sealing the envelope move in opposite directions, to

which end a supporting-plate for the envelops to be sealed and stamped. is interposed between the same, the stan'ip-applymg plate des rably working through an opcnmg 1n this so iporting-plate, so that as the handlever is rotated the envelop-scaling plate is moveddownward toward said foundationplate, and the stamp-applying plate is moved upward through an opening in said foundation plate. This opening in the foundation-platc may, with the stamp-applying plate moving therein, constitute a magazine for the stampsQand in order that the stamps may be applied and the envelope sealed the flaps of the envelops and the perispeeification of Letters Patent. Application filed November is, 1905. Serial no. 287,l)43.

Patented March 5, 1907.

tions of the envelops that are to receive the stamps are moistenedthrough the agency of any suitable moistener, whereafter the envelop is interposed between the sealing-plate and the stamp-ailixing plate and the lever operated to stamp and seal the interposed envelop.

lhe sealingplate has driving connection with the operating handle, preferably throu h the agency of a compressible plunger, this compressible plunger being desirably formed of two sections, one section being rigid and the other being spring-like. In

this way the sealing-plate may be firmly pressed upon the foundation-plate, and the subsequent operation of the stamping-plate may be effected after the sealingplate has been thus brought to the foundationlate, for the spring portion of the plunger wil l permit sufficient pressure to be exerted upon the sealing-plate and at the same time will permit the continued depression of the operating-lever to force the elevation of the stamping-plate through the foundation-plates I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing, in whichl l Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention, certain parts being brolicnaway more clearly to reveal details of constriwtion. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the sectional formation of the o aeratingplunger, which is preferably at the upper partoi the plunger, and the association of this plunger with lbcopcraling-bandlc, the view being taken at right angles to the direction in which Fig. l is taken.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the dill'crcnl ligures.

'lhc foundation-plalc that l. have hitherto spoken of, constitutes the top of a bottomless box that contains the stamp-applying mechanism. This foundation-plate has an opening 2, which is desirably flanged at 2 to all'ord a space in which postage-sta1nps may be received. in this space 2 there is a movable plate 3, that constitutes the bottom of a magazine that is thus established for the stamps. with depending flanges 4, that form, with the bottom oil the plate, a spring-barrel, in which a spring 5 is contained, this spring 5 engaglbe plate 3 is preferably provided sirably engages the bottom of a cylindrical 1 section 6, which telescopes into the springand the envelop at barrel constituted of the stamping-plate and the flanges 4. The end of the lever 6 opposite that engaging the spring 5 is preferably engaged by a plunger-pin 7, which is operated by the mechanism hereafter to he set forth, to effect a vertical movement of the elements 3, 4, 5, and 6, whereby the topmost stamp in the stamp-magazine may he applied to an envelop.

in orderthat the stamp may be applied the same time sealed, there is provided a sealing-plate 8, to which an upwardly-extending operating-plunger is connected. a reduced portion 9, that passes through a barrel 10, provided in the stationary support 11, that is rigidly secured to the "foundationplate 1, a spring 12 within the barrel 10 engaging the enlarged portion 13 of the planger normally to lift the plunger and tllesealing-plate 8, which is united with a rod 14, the latter rod being fastened to the lower end of the part 9 of the plunger that projects throu h the support 11. The plate 8 is somewhat foosely fastened to the rod 14, so that envelops and their contents of unevcnthickness may readily be sealed and stamped. The plunger 9 13, also includes a section formed or the spring 15, Which engages at its bottom the 'top of the portion 13, the top of the spring engaging the housing 16, that maintains the sprin in position and affords a convenient means for effecting the driving connection between the operating handled swinging lever 17 and the plunger. 'lhe housingglfi desirably carries a roller 18, with which the lever 17 is desirably directly engaged, so as to prevent wear between the lever and the housing 15. housing' 15 may be confined to a vertical line of travel, a vertical slot 18 is formed in the element 13, that engages the inner smooth end of the screw 19, that holds the roller 18 in position.

The plunger-pin 7 lies within the plane of movement of the lever 17 and is desirably pf such alength that it is not engaged by the lever until the sealing-plate has been moved substantially into contact with the plate 1,

(there being then no envelop between the stampin and scaling plates,) wherea'fter said pin 7 is, depressed to effect the elevation of the stamping-plate, there being sufficient yield in the spring 15 to permit'oi the full elevation of the stamping-plate to effect the aplication of the stamp while the envelop is eing sealed, the spring 5 being sufficiently strong to transmit force from the pin 7 to ap- This 0 )eratiin )lun 'er includes In order that the ply each stamp in the magazine as the envelops are inserted, even though'it be the last stamp. in the construction shown the stamping-plate is released before the sealingplate is elevated, so that none of the stamps are likely to be displaced from the stampinagazine.

It is obvious that changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precise construction shown; but,

llaving thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. An envelop sealing and stamping machine, including a foundation-plate, a sealing-plate movable toward and from said foundation-plate, a stamping-plate movable toward and from the sealing-plate, the envelop to be sealed and stamped being interposed between the sealing-plate on one side and the foundation and stamping plates on the other side, a plunger connected with the sealing-plate and incfuding a spring in its formation, an operating-lever engaging the plunger, and mechanism whereby the stampi11g-plaffi may be actuated by said operatinglever, the spring-sectionofthe plunger permitting continuation of the operation of the lever to effect movement of the stampingplate subsequent to a movement of the seallug-plate.

2. An envelop sealing and stamping machine, including a foundation'plate, a sealing-plate movable toward and from said foundation-plate, a stamping-plate movable toward and from the sealing-plate, the en velop to be sealed and stamped beinginterpcsed between the sealing-plate on one side and the foundation and stamping plates on the other side, a plunger connected with the sealing-plate and including a spring in its formation, an operating-lever engaging the plunger, and mechanism whereby the st amping-plate may be actuated by said operatinglever, the spring-section of the plunger permitting continuation of the operation of the lever to effect movement of the stampingplate subsequent to a movement of the sealmgplate, the mechanism that affords the connection between said operating-lever and the stamping-plate permitting separable-driving connection between the operating-lever and the stamping-plate.

3. An envelop sealing and stamping ma chine, including a foundation-plate, a sealing-plate movable toward and from said foundation-plate, a stamping-plate movable toward and from the sealing-plate, the envelop to be sealed and stam ed being interposed between the sealing-p ate on one side and the foundation and stamping plates on the other side, a plunger connected with the sealing-plateand including a spring 111 its s mma formation, an operating-lever engaging the i gaging the pin,

0c cn ne, including a foundatiomplate, a sealingplunger, mechanism whereby the stampingplate may be actuated by said operating-lever, the spring-section oi the plunger permitting continuation of the operation of the lever to effect movement of the stampin plate subsequent to a movement of the sea ing--plate, said mechanism "including apin disposed in the plane of movement of the lover, a rocking lever engaging the pin, and a spring affording connection between the stamping-plate and the rocking lever.

4. Anenvelop, sealing and stamping machine, including a foundation-plate, a sealing-plate movable toward and from said foundationlate, a stamping-plate movable toward and from the sealing-plate, the envelop to be sealed and stamped being interposed between the sealing-platc on-one side .and thefoundation and stamping plates on the other side,fa plun erconnected with the scaling-plate and inc uding a spring in its formation, an operatinglever engaging the plunger, mechanism whereby the stampingplate may be actuated by said operating-la ver, the spring-section of the plunger per-- mitting continuation of the operation of the lever to effect movement of the stampingplate su-bsec uent to a movement of the sea lug-plate, t e mechanism the stampingplate permitting separable driving connection between the operatinglever and the stamping-plate, said. mechani'sm includin a pin disposed in the plane of movemento the lver,,a rocking lever enand a spring affording connection between the stamping-plate and the rocking lever.

5. An envelop sealing and stamping machine, including a foundation-plate, a sealingplate movable toward and from said 'founda tion-plate, a stampinglate movable toward and from the sealing-p ate, the envelop to be sealedand stamped being interposed between the sealing-plate onone side and the founda- ,tion and stamping plates on the other side, a

plunger connected with the sealing-plate and including a spring in its formation, an ope/rat: ing-lever engaging the plunger, mechanism whereby the stamping-plate may be actuated by said operating-lever, the spring-sew tion of the plunger permitting continuation of the'operatioh oi the lever to effect movement of the stamping-plate subsequent to a movement of the sealing-plate, and a spring effecting the elevation of the sealing-platewhen the lever is relieved of operating 1nfiuonce.

An envelop sealing and stamping maplate movable toward and from said foundation-plate, a stamping-plate movable toward and frpm the sealing-plate, the envelop to be sealed and stamped being interposed bethat affords the connection between said operating-lever and:

tween the sealing-plate on one side and the foundation and stamping plates on the other plate and including a spring in its formation, an operating-driver engaging mechanism whereby the stamping-plate may" be actuated by gsaid operatinglever, the spring-section oft-he plunger permitting continuation of the operation of the lever to effect movement of the stampingplate sub sequent to a movementof the sea ing-plate, the mechanism that aii'ords the connection between said operating-lever and the stamping-plate permitting sepalrable driving connection between the operatin -lever and the stamping-plate, and a spring it vationot t'hc sealing-plate when the leveris relieved of'operating influence.

7. An envelop sealing and stamping machine, including a foundation-plate, a sealingplate movable toward. and from said foundation-plate, a stampinglate movable toward and from the sealing-p ate, the envelop to be sealed and stamped being interposed between the seali'ng-piate on one side and the foundation and stamping lates on the other side, a plunger connects with the sealing plate and including a spring in its formation, an operating lever engaging the plunger, mechanism'whereby the stampinglate may be actuated by said operating ever, the spring-section of the plunger-permitting continuation of the o )eration of the lever to effect movement 0 the stamping-plate subsequent to a movement of the sealingplate, said mechanism including a pin disposed in the plane of movement of the lever, a rocking lever engaging the pin, a spring affording connection between. the stampin -plate and the rocking lever, and a spring 0 'ccting the elevation of the sealing-plate when the lever is relieved of operating influence.

8. An envelop sealing and stamping Ina-- plate movable toward and from said foundaand cm the sealing-plate, the envelop to be sealed and stamped being interposed between the sealing-plate on one side and the foundation and'stamping plates on the other side, a plunger connected with the sealing-plate and including a spring in its formation, an operating-lever engaging the plunger, mechanism whereby the stamping-plate may be acl uated by said operating-lever, the spring-section of the plunger permitting continuation of the o eration of the lever to effect movement of t e stamping-plate subsequent to a movement of the sealingplate, the mechanism that affords the connection between said operating-lever and the stamping-plate permitting separable driving connectionv be" tween the operating-lever and the stamping 1 plate, said mechanism including a pin disl posed in the plane of movement of the lever,

side, a plunger connected with the sealing;

the plunger chine, including a found ation-plate, a sealingecting the ole I tion-fplate, a stamping-plate movable toward a rocking lever plate and 'the eflecting the a 5 when the lever ence.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe rocking lcv levatlon of s t ampingl er, and a sprmg the sealing-plate is relieved of operating influl VViLnesses:

1y name this 7th day of November, A. 1).

CHARLES W. GRAY.

WM. H. FLINT, JACK MONTGOMERY. 

